REVIEWS AND POWERSTONES PLSSS!!!!!Chapter 131: Verbal Swordplay
The Mist ninja detected Hiruko and Ritsu's arrival early.
After being restricted from going outside freely, the atmosphere within the Mist ninja delegation had become exceptionally gloomy.
Chief Envoy Hyakubei-senpai had departed and never returned. Afterward, the embassy where they stayed became completely surrounded. They'd also witnessed the mountain-sized Wood Human that appeared several days ago. Everything happening was so unsettling.
Yet the Konoha ninja always refused to respond to their inquiries. Feeling anxious and panicked was normal. They'd even become nervously sensitive to the point of jumping at shadows, suspecting at the slightest disturbance that the Konoha ninja planned to kill them all.
Compared to the delegation members' panic, Vice Envoy Yaku remained much calmer.
The Wood Human that previously appeared within Konoha Village made him suspect internal upheaval might have occurred. He couldn't help wondering whether perhaps Hyakubei-senpai's scheme to instigate Konoha internal strife had succeeded.
However—
Ao felt no joy over this.
Because they still hadn't received any audience. Despite repeated requests, everything sank like stones into the sea. This feeling of facing the deep ocean left Ao's heart constantly filled with unease.
But as vice envoy, he couldn't display this unease. He exhausted all efforts maintaining a composed, calm attitude.
Until he saw Hiruko and Ritsu again.
"We meet again, Vice Envoy Yaku."
Ritsu greeted him with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
Yaku vigilantly scrutinized the two before him and asked aloud, "Hyuga Clan Head, Hiruko-jonin—may I ask what brings you both here?"
"Following the Fourth Hokage's orders to discuss signing a mutual non-aggression treaty with you."
Hiruko answered coolly.
"Fourth Hokage?"
Yaku was greatly shocked.
Trapped in this embassy, he was completely unaware of Konoha Village's changes these past days. Suddenly hearing such a title, he momentarily lost composure, unable to maintain that calm facade. Deep surprise showed on his face.
"Vice Envoy Yaku, do you intend to speak with us standing at the embassy entrance?"
Ritsu asked with a smile.
"No, my apologies—I was discourteous. Hyuga Clan Head, Hiruko-jonin, please come in." Yaku recovered himself, forcibly suppressing the chaotic thoughts in his mind. He gestured an invitation for them to enter the embassy.
"Oh, and here's good news—my teacher has been appointed Hokage Advisor by the Fourth Hokage."
"Ah, Hiruko-jonin... I should say Hokage Advisor Hiruko now. Congratulations on receiving such honor." Yaku repeatedly congratulated him, thoughts racing frantically.
From the looks of it, the Third Hokage seemed to have lost in the power struggle. The master-student pair of Hiruko and Ritsu were obviously the victorious side. Otherwise, Hiruko wouldn't have been appointed Hokage Advisor. But who exactly was this Fourth Hokage?
"Hokage Advisor Hiruko, may I presumptuously ask which individual is your Fourth Hokage?"
Yaku couldn't help asking aloud.
"Minato-senpai."
Ritsu answered in his place.
"So it's Namikaze Minato-dono."
Yaku nodded knowingly, yet grew increasingly confused inwardly.
According to past reports from spies planted in Konoha, the Fourth Hokage candidates were Orochimaru and Namikaze Minato. One was the Third Hokage's disciple, the other the Third Hokage's disciple's disciple. Though both appeared to have close relationships with the Third Hokage—
Actually, Namikaze Minato seemed more highly regarded by the Third Hokage. Conversely, his relationship with his disciple Orochimaru had grown distant in recent years. Meanwhile, these two—Ritsu and Hiruko—were on good terms with Orochimaru, having no dealings with Namikaze Minato.
So hearing Hiruko appointed as Hokage Advisor, he'd guessed perhaps Orochimaru succeeded as Fourth Hokage. But unexpectedly, it was the Yellow Flash, Namikaze Minato.
Before he could clarify his confusion, they'd already entered the embassy and arrived at the reception room.
Yaku ordered tea served, suppressed the numerous thoughts in his mind, and looked seriously toward Hiruko and Ritsu seated opposite. He asked aloud, "When does the Fourth Hokage-dono plan to sign the mutual non-aggression peace treaty with us?"
"Anytime."
"Hm?"
"But there's a prerequisite condition."
Yaku relaxed, thinking this was right. How could a treaty be signed so easily? There had to be some complications, especially now that Konoha Village's upper leadership had changed. Previous judgments and strategies based on the Third Hokage's authority no longer applied. He could only adapt flexibly now.
He looked at Hiruko and said solemnly, "Hokage Advisor Hiruko, please speak."
Hiruko stated directly, "Because of your Mist ninja invasion, this war caused us Konoha approximately four billion ryo in losses. If you want to sign a mutual non-aggression peace treaty, you must first compensate these losses clearly. Then the Hokage-sama can sign this useless treaty with you anytime."
"That's impossible!"
Yaku shot to his feet.
The reception room door also burst open. Over ten Mist ninja rushed in, each overflowing with killing intent.
But Ritsu and Hiruko remained seated on the sofa without moving, completely ignoring the Mist ninja who'd charged in.
Yaku took a deep breath and waved his hand. "Get out."
The Mist ninja exchanged glances but still obediently withdrew. When leaving, they didn't forget to close the door behind them.
Then Yaku stood before the tea table, looking at Hiruko opposite, and said sharply, "Hiruko-dono, your side's conditions are far too unreasonable. This war didn't only cause losses to your side. Hidden Mist Village likewise paid an enormous price."
"But you started the war first!"
Hiruko looked coldly at Yaku. "Vice Envoy Yaku, this is already very lenient conditions. As the losers, compensating the victor's losses is perfectly natural. As for your Mist ninja losses—you brought that on yourselves. Oh, Hyuga Clan Head, take out what the Hokage-sama gave you!"
"Yes, Sensei."
Hearing Sensei Hiruko's formal, official address, Ritsu smiled and produced the scroll, spreading it open on the tea table. The seal formula on the scroll was Konoha's standard internal type—easily opened using conventional methods.
The next instant, Ritsu formed hand seals and easily unsealed the scroll.
With a "poof," unsealing caused a chakra vaporization phenomenon. As white smoke dispersed, it revealed that pale, cold corpse before Yaku eyes.
"Hyakubei-senpai."
Yaku's eyes widened to their limits.
He looked in disbelief at the corpse laid across the tea table. His entire body erupted with killing intent, almost beyond self-control. But when he raised his head, he saw Ritsu's playful, expectant smile—as if just waiting for him to attack. It was like having a basin of ice water poured over his head, extinguishing all the fury in his chest. Reason reclaimed the high ground.
His hands clenched into tight fists. He stared fixedly at Hiruko, his voice trembling from suppressed rage. "Hiruko-dono, doesn't your Konoha feel you're going too far? Killing our village's chief envoy—do you truly intend to fight our Hidden Mist Village to the death?"
"Your chief envoy sowed discord, seduced the Third Hokage, and triggered our Konoha's internal strife. His crimes were unforgivable. Even as an envoy, his offense was inexcusable. The Fourth Hokage-sama personally ordered his execution and commanded me to deliver his corpse as warning."
"Also, fight to the death?"
Hiruko sneered coldly. "If you think so, then so be it. But I can tell you clearly and unmistakably—if you Mist ninja truly intend to fight Konoha to the death, I can guarantee the ones who die will definitely be you Mist ninja!"
"You, you... Hokage Advisor Hiruko, is this how your side intends to discuss signing a mutual non-aggression peace treaty with us?" Yaku nearly failed to restrain himself from cursing aloud.
Hiruko remained unmoved, his smile icy. "You brought this on yourselves, didn't you? Losers must have losers' awareness. Do you still think our Konoha is ruled by the decaying, muddled Third Hokage? The Third was muddled and easily deceived, but our Fourth Hokage-sama won't tolerate any sand in his eyes. You Mist ninja must pay the proper price for your failure!!"
Then Hiruko sighed with emotion. "Come to think of it, I personally actually need to thank your chief envoy's actions. If he hadn't accelerated and catalyzed our Konoha's internal contradictions and conflicts, perhaps the Third would still be in power now. Moreover, precisely because of his catalytic effect, the contradictions detonated prematurely, actually minimizing village losses as much as possible."
Yaku's hands trembled. Furious emotions made him nearly lose self-control.
However, Ritsu's smile was truly hair-raising.
Ao-senpai, Suikazan Fuguki, Kaguya Taizo, Kuriarare Kushimaru, Ringo Ameyuri, and Hoshigaki Kisame—so many village powerhouses joining forces were still defeated by Ritsu alone. Ao-senpai, Kaguya Taizo, and Kuriarare Kushimaru died. Suikazan Fuguki was captured alive. Only Ringo Ameyuri and Hoshigaki Kisame escaped back.
Whenever recalling such terrifying battle achievements and seeing Ritsu's bloodthirsty, warlike smile, he immediately felt like he was in the deep sea. The flames of anger would be extinguished.
He didn't fear death but feared his death being utterly meaningless. Hyakubei-senpai had indeed used himself as the price to instigate Konoha's internal strife, but the results seemed unsatisfactory.
Post-internal-strife Konoha didn't appear to have suffered much damage to its vitality. Its attitude had even become more hardline and difficult to deal with. Wait... perhaps these two before him were deliberately intimidating him?
This speculation kept surfacing in his mind. Perhaps Konoha had been gravely injured in internal strife, but to prevent others from detecting their internal weakness, they deliberately displayed this aggressively forceful hardline stance?
The more he thought, the more he believed this was the truth.
Even Ritsu's arrival seemed to him to be Konoha deliberately commanding his presence to intimidate, attempting to make him reach wrong decisions in panic.
Watching Yaku suddenly calm down and composedly sit, Ritsu and Hiruko exchanged puzzled glances. Neither understood this Mist ninja Vice Envoy Yaku's mental state change. How had he suddenly... become so composed?
Yaku spoke aloud. "Hokage Advisor Hiruko, your side's demands are too harsh. Our Hidden Mist Village absolutely cannot agree."
"Vice Envoy Yaku, are you certain?"
"I can understand your side's current difficult circumstances. To prevent others from seeing through your true situation, you've proposed such harsh conditions. But this is meaningless. Please propose more realistic conditions!"
Hearing Yaku's words—
Hiruko and Ritsu suddenly understood. So this fellow thought their Konoha was bluffing!
This was truly... unexpected!
"Vice Envoy Yaku, you may have misunderstood. However... I don't care, and I don't plan to explain anything. I estimate that no matter what I say now, it'll be difficult to change your perception. So either you pay four billion ryo in reparations and we'll sign the mutual non-aggression peace treaty, or we'll go to Hidden Mist Village ourselves to take our losses. At that point, there'll be no need to sign this useless treaty!"
"I'm laying it out here. Whether you contact your Mizukage to report or act arbitrarily on your own—in three hours, I'll come again. I hope you can give me a clear answer then. If you can't give me a clear answer, I'll directly consider that you've chosen the latter method of completely ending the war."
Hiruko stood, picked up the warm tea, and drained it in one gulp. "Hyuga Clan Head, we've had our tea. Time to go."
Finished speaking, he walked straight toward the door.
Ritsu also picked up his teacup. He didn't drink, only looked at the dumbfounded Yaku opposite and smiled. "Honestly, I hope you choose the latter method of ending the war. After all, I fought you Mist ninja at the frontlines so long yet never had opportunity to visit Hidden Mist Village. This leaves me very regretful. I hope you can help me remedy this regret."
As his words fell, he also drained his tea, even pouring the tea leaves into his mouth to chew slowly. He tossed the empty teacup onto the tea table, turned around, and followed Hiruko toward the exit.
"Hokage Advisor Hiruko, Hokage Advisor Hiruko..."
Yaku called out repeatedly.
But Hiruko walked out of the embassy without stopping. When Yaku wanted to chase after them, ninja from the Uchiha and Hyuga clans guarding the entrance extended their hands to block him. The Mist ninja delegation hadn't been permitted to leave the embassy and move freely.
Yaku stood at the embassy entrance, watching the master-student pair's backs disappear. He stood rooted in place for three or four full minutes before suddenly turning to go back inside the embassy. He needed to send a letter reporting everything that happened here to the Elder and Mizukage-sama.
Though he judged Konoha was bluffing, as vice envoy he lacked authority to finalize such decisions. Only the Elder and Mizukage-sama could decide everything.
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